Claire
Reynolds
Democratic attorney and former ethics watchdog challenging incumbent Rep. August Pfluger in Texas's 11th Congressional District
- sources
- 18
- positions
- 9
- endorsements
- 17
Background
Claire Reynolds is a Democratic challenger running for Texas's 11th Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 election, facing Republican incumbent August Pfluger. 12 She is an attorney who spent 12 years in the State Bar of Texas's Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel before leaving that position in December 2025 to launch her congressional campaign; she has also been described as a former journalist. 51318 Reynolds earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and a Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law. 5 Born in Indiana and raised in central Illinois, she moved to Texas in 2007 and currently lives in Austin. 5
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 11, Texas
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Website
- clairereynoldsforcongress.org(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Date unknownnewsReynolds calls on Pfluger for oversight after two fatal ICE shootings
Reynolds demanded Pfluger seek answers following two fatal ICE shootings, stating 'Oversight isn't optional; it's part of the job.' She also proposed banning congressional stock trading and reversing Trump administration actions on tariffs, health care, immigration, and scientific research. Reported October 2 as occurring in July.
Democrat Claire Reynolds says accountability drives bid for Texas District 11 · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Date unknownnewsReynolds holds July town hall opposing regional data-center construction
Reynolds held a town hall in July opposing regional data-center construction in the district, as reported by the Midland Reporter-Telegram on October 2.
Democrat Claire Reynolds says accountability drives bid for Texas District 11 · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 6debateReynolds and Pfluger debate in Basin PBS forum in Midland covering energy, AI, immigration, and healthcare
Reynolds and Pfluger faced off in a Basin PBS debate in Midland. Reynolds said she wanted to 'get big money out' of politics, was 'not here to eliminate oil and gas' while calling for solar and wind growth, and said she wanted to replace ICE with a 'small ethical enforcement agency.' Also covered: data centers and artificial intelligence.
Pfluger, Reynolds face off in District 11 congressional debate in Midland · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 5debateFirst Alert 7 announces live stream of TX-11 congressional debate between Pfluger and Reynolds
First Alert 7 announced it would stream the congressional debate live between incumbent August Pfluger and Democratic nominee Claire Reynolds.
First Alert 7 to stream live debate between Congressman August Pfluger & Democratic nominee Claire Reynolds · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 30debatePfluger agrees to debate Reynolds as concerns mount over his Washington record
Congressman August Pfluger agreed to debate Democratic nominee Claire Reynolds ahead of the November general election, according to a Ground News report.
Congressman Pfluger Agrees to Debate Claire Reynolds as Concerns Mount On His Record in Washington · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 26pollRace analysis finds large Republican advantage in TX-11; no district polls published
The Political Group published a race analysis estimating a large Republican advantage in TX-11 based on past election results, noting no 2026 polls had been published for the district.
What It Would Take for Claire Reynolds to Win TX-11 in 2026 · Sep 26, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 24debateBasin PBS announces series of four debates for 2026 election cycle including TX-11
Basin PBS announced a series of four debates for the 2026 election cycle, setting the stage for the Pfluger-Reynolds matchup.
Basin PBS announces series of four debates for 2026 election cycle · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 23newsAnalysis examines whether Democrats can make inroads in deep-red West Texas
A national outlet examined the prospects for Reynolds and other Democrats in deep-red West Texas congressional races.
‘Up Against a 500-Pound Gorilla': Can Dems Make Inroads in Deep-Red West Texas? · Sep 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 18endorsementAustin Central Labor Council endorses Reynolds for TX-11
The Austin Central Labor Council issued its 2026 general election endorsements, including Claire Reynolds for Texas U.S. House District 11.
Austin Central Labor Council 2026 General Election Endorsements · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 14newsReynolds campaign profiled as Democrat challenging Republican incumbent in deep-red West Texas
The Concho Observer published a profile of Reynolds framing her race as Democrats versus Goliaths in a heavily Republican district.
It's Dems vs. Goliaths on the Campaign Trail · Sep 14, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Mar 4filingReynolds wins Democratic primary for TX-11 with 57.6% of the vote
Claire Reynolds defeated Pedro 'Pete' Ruiz in the Democratic primary with 57.6% of the vote, securing the Democratic nomination for Texas U.S. House District 11.
Democrat Claire Reynolds says accountability drives bid for Texas District 11 · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Lone Star Left otherListed by the campaign; described as a blog. No endorsement date located.
- National Women's Political Caucus organizationListed by the campaign and on NWPC's 2026 endorsed-candidates page (updated October 2, 2026); no specific endorsement date located. nwpc.org
- Her Bold Move organizationListed by the campaign and on the group's 2026 endorsements page; no specific announcement date located. herboldmove.org
- Austin American-Statesman newspaperListed by the campaign as an endorser; however, the October 2, 2026 Midland Reporter-Telegram article states the paper had endorsed Reynolds's primary opponent Pedro Ruiz rather than Reynolds. No independent confirmation of a Reynolds endorsement found. mrt.com
- Liberal Austin Democrats organizationListed by the campaign; campaign news page reports they named Reynolds on their 2026 endorsement slate, but no announcement date given. clairereynoldsforcongress.org
- NorthEast Travis County Democrats organizationListed by the campaign; campaign news page reports they named Reynolds on their 2026 endorsement slate, but no announcement date given. clairereynoldsforcongress.org
- Black Girls Politickin organizationListed by the campaign; no endorsement date located.
- Wait, What?! otherListed by the campaign; described as a podcast. No endorsement date located.
- All My Leftists Live in Texas otherListed by the campaign; described as a blog/podcast. No endorsement date located.
- Leander Women For Progress organizationListed by the campaign; no endorsement date located.
- Progressive Voters' Network organizationListed by the campaign; no endorsement date located.
- Mothers Against Greg Abbott organizationListed by the campaign; no endorsement date located.
- Save Our Public Schools organizationListed by the campaign; no endorsement date located.
- Pflugerville Area Democrats organizationListed by the campaign; no endorsement date located.
- Indivisible Highland Lakes organizationListed by the campaign; no endorsement date located.
- The 134 PAC organizationListed on the PAC's endorsed-candidates page as of August 19, 2026; also listed by the campaign. the134pac.org · Aug 19, 2026
- Texas AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education (COPE) unionNamed Reynolds for U.S. House District 11 on the 2026 general-election endorsement list. texasaflcio.org · Jul 21, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $123K
- Spent
- $69K
- Cash on hand
- $54K
As of Sep 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6TX11112(opens in a new tab)
Sources 18
- [1] Pfluger, Reynolds face off in District 11 congressional debate in Midland(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [2] First Alert 7 to stream live debate between Congressman August Pfluger & Democratic nominee Claire Reynolds(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [3] Democrat Claire Reynolds says accountability drives bid for Texas District 11(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [4] Congressman Pfluger Agrees to Debate Claire Reynolds as Concerns Mount On His Record in Washington(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [5] What It Would Take for Claire Reynolds to Win TX-11 in 2026(opens in a new tab) Sep 26, 2026
- [6] Basin PBS announces series of four debates for 2026 election cycle(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
- [7] ‘Up Against a 500-Pound Gorilla': Can Dems Make Inroads in Deep-Red West Texas?(opens in a new tab) Sep 23, 2026
- [8] Austin Central Labor Council 2026 General Election Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Sep 18, 2026
- [9] 2026 Endorsed Candidates(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
- [10] It's Dems vs. Goliaths on the Campaign Trail(opens in a new tab) Sep 14, 2026
- [11] Endorsed Candidates - National Women's Political Caucus(opens in a new tab) Aug 25, 2026
- [12] CANDIDATES ENDORSED(opens in a new tab) Aug 19, 2026
- [13] Texas AFL-CIO COPE 2026 General Election Pro-Worker Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Jul 21, 2026
- [14] Claire Reynolds Wants Congress to do Its Job - The Concho Observer(opens in a new tab) Jan 26, 2026
- [15] Q&A: Meet the U.S. House District 11 Democratic candidates(opens in a new tab) Jan 16, 2026
- [16] Claire Reynolds for Congress(opens in a new tab) Dec 17, 2025
- [17] Claire Reynolds for Congress(opens in a new tab) Dec 15, 2025
- [18] Immigration Reform — Claire Reynolds for Congress(opens in a new tab) Dec 15, 2025